Youth demand action on climate change

Since the start of 2019, tens of thousands of young people in Europe have hit the streets in multiple demonstrations to demand real action from their governments and funding needed to preserve a livable future and prevent further environmental disasters.

February 15 saw tens of thousands come out in England, France, the Netherlands, Germany and Sweden with placards and banners that read: “There is no planet B,” “We’re old enough to know better — Why aren’t U?,” “I stand up for what I stand on” and “Stop Trumperies climatiques.”

The organizers of Youth Strike 4 Climate said protests in Britain took place in more than 60 towns and cities and an estimated 15,000 people participated. The biggest protests were held in London, Brighton, Oxford and Exeter; there were also protests in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast.

The UK Student Climate Network, which helped coordinate the protests, has four major demands: the government should declare a “climate emergency”; it should inform the public about the seriousness of the situation; the national curriculum should be reformed to include “the ecological crisis”; and the age of voting should be lowered to 16 so younger people can be involved in decision-making around environmental issues. (www.bbc.com)